While there are dozens of documentaries illustrating how autism shatters parental hopes and dreams, comparatively few programs counsel parents and teachers on what they can do to help an autistic child cope with the world around them. Aut-erobics: Autism Movement Therapy, created by special education teacher Joanne Lara, combines movement and music therapy in order to “wake up the brain.” Citing the positive results of a 2001 study, Lara points out that children with autism focus and communicate better after twice-weekly, 20-minute movement sessions than autistic children in a control group not receiving the therapy. Combining yoga-type techniques with low-impact aerobics, the program presents three workout routines at different skill levels—emerging, developing, and proficient—as well as a bonus hip hop level. Since libraries are a natural place to “try before you buy,” this will be an excellent resource for parents of autistic children to test with their kids. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (R. Reagan)
Aut-erobics: Autism Movement Therapy
(2007) 68 min. DVD: $24.99. <span class=GramE>Victory Multimedia (avail. from most distributors). October 27, 2008
Aut-erobics: Autism Movement Therapy
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